The ongoing legal disputes surrounding the disclosure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational qualifications have intensified, with petitions filed by prominent figures, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh, Right to Information (RTI) activist Neeraj Sharma, and advocate Mohd Irshad. The development stems from a single-judge decision made on August 25, which annulled a ruling from the Central Information Commission (CIC) that required the disclosure of PM Modi's degree details.

At the heart of the legal challenge is the interpretation of Section 8 of the Right to Information Act (RTI Act), which outlines exemptions to public disclosure. Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat, representing one of the appellants, argued that two fundamental questions arise from this case: the applicability of the exemptions under the RTI Act and the broader public interest in disclosing the Prime Minister's degree details.

The Division Bench, comprised of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, acknowledged that the appeals were filed beyond the legal time limit. Consequently, the court indicated that it would initially hear arguments concerning the delay before delving into the substantive issues at stake. It also instructed Delhi University (DU) to submit objections regarding the delay in filing the appeals.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing DU, stated that while he had not reviewed the delay justifications from the petitioners, he was prepared to argue the case based on its merits. The court allowed for the filing of objections to the application for delay condonation within three weeks and stipulated that the appellants could respond to these objections. The next hearing is scheduled for January 16, 2026.

This matter gained significant attention in 2016 when former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal publicly challenged PM Modi to reveal his educational credentials, specifically requesting transparency regarding his degree. PM Modi has claimed that he graduated from Delhi University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science.

Prior to this controversy, Neeraj Sharma filed an RTI inquiry in 2015 requesting information about all BA degrees awarded by Delhi University in 1978. The university rejected this request, citing a classification of the data as private and not of public interest. Following this, Sharma escalated the issue to the CIC, resulting in a December 2016 directive that compelled DU to publicize the list of students who completed the BA program in 1978.

However, in January 2017, DU contested the CIC’s order in High Court, and the court issued a notice to Sharma while temporarily suspending the CIC’s directive. The Solicitor General highlighted the potential wider implications of the CIC's order, which could affect the confidentiality of degree records held by universities across India. This ongoing legal process underscores the contentious realm of transparency in governance and public office holders' credentials.